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Sunshine on Leith (and the rest of Edinburgh): reflections on #IATEFL2025

  • Writer: Paul Sceeny
    Paul Sceeny
  • Apr 18
  • 2 min read
Paul, wearing a black leather jacket and white linen shirt and with his IATEFL Conference pass and lanyard clearly visible, standing in front of an IATEFL Conference banner
First day at conference - just after grabbing credential and (overpriced) coffee!

One week on from attending this year's IATEFL Conference in Edinburgh, I'm still processing the various conversations I engaged in and insights I picked up.


It's both a massive conference (nearly 3,000 people this year) and a very intense few days. ESOL is just one of many English Language Teaching (ELT) contexts, and one of the (mini) frustrations at IATEFL is how frequently it becomes necessary to explain what ESOL is (teaching English to settling/settled adults in places where English is the dominant language).


I hadn't originally planned to stay for the full week, although there was a gap between the ESOL Special Interest Group (ESOLSIG) Pre-Conference Event on the Monday, and the ESOLSIG Showcase Day on the Thursday, so it made sense to hang around in between. Once again, Vivi Bairami did a fantastic job overseeing the line-up of sessions on both days, and there's always good craic with Lesley Painter-Farrell!


Laura, Paul and Lesley are huddled together for a selfie. Laura is on the left, with glasses. Paul is in the middle with his conference lanyard clearly visible and a 'You're Now Entering Free Derry badge in Palestinian colours. Lesley is on the right with blonde hair. The background is dark, although there are other conference delegates standing behind, including Jeremy Harmer.
Laura Plotnek-Jones, Paul and Lesley Painter-Farrell hanging out during the Welcome Reception and Ceilidh

I also liked hanging out with other independent consultants and freelancers, so it was great to meet up with a number of other members of Rachael Roberts's ELT Freelancers' Collective - especially to spend time with Reena Mistry, Jelena Perišić and others. It was great so see so many freelancers secure speaking slots at this year's conference - possibly something to think about?


I was also delighted to be able to squeeze in chats with NATECLA Scotland's two new Co-Chairs, as well as catch up with Steve Brown, Carol Goodey and others from Glasgow University.


Image of LinkedIn post by Paul advertising the ESOLSIG Showcase Day programme. It includes a picture of Leith town centre in the early morning, with a bright blue sky and the sun poking through from behind the Robert Burns statue and tramline wires visible overhead. The post reads: "Can actually say there’s Sunshine on Leith🎶 this morning.😎All set for #ESOL Special Interest Group Showcase day at #IATEFL2025. Will be great to see you at some/all of these sessions focused specifically on ESOL contexts. #PracticeSharing #Networking #ELT #ESOLShowcase

Aside from myself, Laura Plotnek-Jones was also flying the flag for NATECLA during the first couple of days - presenting to the Associates' Day on NATECLA's in-house training service as a model ELT professional bodies and associations elsewhere might want to emulate.

Much as it was a full-on week, the unseasonably pleasant weather certainly helped, and on the Thursday I could boast about having actually observed Sunshine on Leith (where I had been staying). Just wish there'd been bit more time to explore Edinburgh itself.







 
 
 

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